U.S. patent number 8,946,936 [Application Number 13/054,879] was granted by the patent office on 2015-02-03 for electromagnetic coupling device, and door handle and vehicle door having electromagnetic coupling device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha. The grantee listed for this patent is Kiyokazu Ieda, Yuichi Murakami, Hiroki Okada. Invention is credited to Kiyokazu Ieda, Yuichi Murakami, Hiroki Okada.
United States Patent |
8,946,936 |
Okada , et al. |
February 3, 2015 |
Electromagnetic coupling device, and door handle and vehicle door
having electromagnetic coupling device
Abstract
An electromagnetic coupling device electromagnetically connects
a door handle side circuit of a door handle with a door main body
side circuit of a door main body. This electromagnetic coupling
device includes a door handle side coupling unit, a door main body
side coupling unit, a door handle side coupling unit, a handle side
support unit that supports the door handle, and a connector body
that supports the door main body side coupling unit in a vehicle
door main body. The door handle side coupling unit is
electromagnetically coupled with the door main body side coupling
unit without making contact therewith. At least one of the handle
side support unit and the connector body restricts the relative
movement, caused by rotation of the door handle, of the door handle
side coupling unit and the door main body side coupling unit.
Inventors: |
Okada; Hiroki (Toyota,
JP), Ieda; Kiyokazu (Kariya, JP), Murakami;
Yuichi (Chiryu, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Okada; Hiroki
Ieda; Kiyokazu
Murakami; Yuichi |
Toyota
Kariya
Chiryu |
N/A
N/A
N/A |
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
(Toyota-shi, JP)
Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha (Kariya-shi,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
43308560 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/054,879 |
Filed: |
June 11, 2009 |
PCT
Filed: |
June 11, 2009 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/JP2009/060702 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
January 19, 2011 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2010/143292 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
December 16, 2010 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20110140479 A1 |
Jun 16, 2011 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
307/104; 335/219;
296/146.1; 307/10.1; 307/9.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60Q
1/2669 (20130101); E05B 81/78 (20130101); Y10T
16/458 (20150115); E05B 85/16 (20130101); E05B
2047/0071 (20130101); E05B 2047/0056 (20130101); B60Q
2900/30 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01F
27/42 (20060101); H01F 37/00 (20060101); H01F
38/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;307/9,10.1,104,9.1
;296/146 ;335/219 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
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7 100786 |
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Apr 1995 |
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JP |
|
2000 225879 |
|
Aug 2000 |
|
JP |
|
2002 96657 |
|
Apr 2002 |
|
JP |
|
2004 216981 |
|
Aug 2004 |
|
JP |
|
2004 239008 |
|
Aug 2004 |
|
JP |
|
2006 19215 |
|
Jan 2006 |
|
JP |
|
2006 233714 |
|
Sep 2006 |
|
JP |
|
2007 254993 |
|
Oct 2007 |
|
JP |
|
2007 254995 |
|
Oct 2007 |
|
JP |
|
2007 262832 |
|
Oct 2007 |
|
JP |
|
Other References
International Search Report issued Sep. 2, 2009 in PCT/JP09/60702
filed Jun. 11, 2009. cited by applicant .
International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written
Opinion issued Jan. 17, 2012 in PCT/JP2009/060702. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Barnie; Rexford
Assistant Examiner: Vu; Toan
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier
& Neustadt, L.L.P.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. An electromagnetic coupling device electromagnetically
connecting a door handle side circuit adapted to be provided in a
door handle which is so mounted to a vehicle door main body as to
rotate relative thereto and a door main body side circuit adapted
to be provided in the vehicle door main body, the door main body
including a door glass which can be raised and lowered with respect
to the door main body, the electromagnetic coupling device
comprising: a door handle side coupling unit electromagnetically
connected with the door handle side circuit; a door main body side
coupling unit electromagnetically coupled with the door handle side
coupling unit without making contact therewith; a handle side
support unit that supports the door handle side coupling unit in
the door handle; a door side support unit that supports the door
main body side coupling unit in the door main body; a window outer
side coupling unit disposed at the same side of the door glass as
the door handle, and electromagnetically connected with the door
main body side coupling unit; and a window inner side coupling unit
disposed at the opposite side of the door glass from the door
handle, and electromagnetically connected with the door main body
side circuit, wherein at least one of the handle side support unit
and the door side support unit restricts the relative movement,
caused by rotation of the door handle, of the door handle side
coupling unit and the door main body side coupling unit, and
wherein the window outer side coupling unit and the window inner
side coupling unit are disposed at opposing positions with the door
glass interposed therebetween, and are electromagnetically
coupled.
2. The electromagnetic coupling device according to claim 1,
wherein the door side support unit and the handle side support unit
fit mutually together, and the relative movement is restricted by
resilient deformation of at least one of the door side support unit
and the handle side support unit.
3. The electromagnetic coupling device according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein, the electromagnetic coupling includes coupling by means of
radio waves and coupling by means of light.
4. A vehicle door comprising: a vehicle door main body; a door
glass which can be raised and lowered with respect to the door main
body; and a door handle mounted so as to rotate with respect to the
vehicle door main body, wherein the vehicle door main body includes
a door main body side circuit, a door main body side coupling unit,
a door side support unit that supports the door main body side
coupling unit, a window outer side coupling unit disposed at the
same side of the door glass as the door handle, and
electromagnetically connected with the door main body side coupling
unit, and a window inner side coupling unit disposed at the
opposite side of the door glass from the door handle, and
electromagnetically connected with the door main body side circuit,
wherein the door handle includes a door handle side circuit, a door
handle side coupling unit electromagnetically connected with the
door main body side circuit without making contact therewith, and
electromagnetically connected with the door handle side circuit,
and a handle side support unit that supports the door handle side
coupling unit, wherein at least one of the door side support unit
and the handle side support unit restricts, by means of
deformation, the relative movement, caused by rotation of the door
handle, of the door handle side coupling unit and the door main
body side coupling unit, and wherein the window outer side coupling
unit and the window inner side coupling unit are disposed at
opposing positions with the door glass interposed therebetween, and
are electromagnetically coupled.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a vehicle door. In particular, the
present invention relates to a vehicle door having wiring that
electromagnetically couples an electrical circuit disposed in a
door handle and an electrical circuit disposed in a vehicle.
Electromagnetic coupling includes at least one of electrical
coupling and optical coupling.
BACKGROUND ART
A vehicle door smart key system (registered trademark) has become
widespread in recent years. E.g., the following technique (Patent
Document 1) has been proposed as this type of system. In this
technique, when a door lock is released or locked by a door lock
releasing signal or door lock locking signal emitted by a portable
device (smart key), a light-emitting diode is lit for a
predetermined period, informing a driver of the door lock status.
Specifically, when the door lock is released, a red light-emitting
diode embedded in a door handle having a transparent body is lit
for a fixed period, and when the door lock is locked, a green
light-emitting diode embedded in the door handle having the
transparent body is lit for a fixed period. In this technique,
power supply to the two-color light-emitting diodes is performed by
magnetic coupling. Consequently the handle, does not become
unsightly even if it consists of transparent material, and the
waterproofing treatment needed when wiring is mounted becomes
unnecessary.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS
Patent Documents
[Patent Document 1] JP2007-254993A
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
In a vehicle door smart key system, an antenna and sensor, which
are part of a circuit, are usually mounted in a door handle, and a
control circuit is usually mounted in a vehicle. In this type of
configuration, signal transmission is needed between the door
handle side circuit and a main circuit. However, insufficient study
has been performed on realizing non-contact transmission of the
signal between the door handle side circuit and the main circuit in
the vehicle. Further, this type of problem is not restricted to the
vehicle door smart key system, but is a widespread problem in
signal transmission.
The present invention has been created to solve the above problem,
and aims to teach a technique that realizes effective transmission
between a door handle and a vehicle door.
Means to Solve the Problem
The present invention can present a technique exemplified as the
following configurations and aspects.
A first configuration example teaches an electromagnetic coupling
device electromagnetically connecting a door handle side circuit of
a door handle mounted so as to be capable of rotating with respect
to a vehicle door main body, and a door main body side circuit of
the door main body. This electromagnetic coupling device comprises
a door handle side coupling unit, a door main body side coupling
unit, a handle side support unit, and a door side support unit. The
door handle side coupling unit is electromagnetically connected
with the door handle side circuit. The door main body side coupling
unit is electromagnetically coupled with the door handle side
coupling unit without making contact therewith, and is
electromagnetically connected with the door main body side circuit.
The handle side support unit supports the door handle side coupling
unit in the door handle. The door side support unit supports the
door main body side coupling unit in the door main body. At least
one of the handle side support unit and the door side support unit
restrict the relative movement, caused by rotation of the door
handle, of the door handle side coupling unit and the door main
body side coupling unit.
In the first configuration example, the door handle side circuit of
the door handle and the door main body side circuit of the door
main body are connected by non-contact electromagnetic coupling
between the door handle side coupling unit and the door main body
side coupling unit. In this electromagnetic coupling, at least one
of the handle side support unit and the door side support unit
restricts the relative movement, caused by rotation of the door
handle, of the door handle side coupling unit and the door main
body side coupling unit, and consequently a worsening of
electromagnetic coupling caused by rotation of the door handle can
be reduced. E.g., stable electromagnetic coupling using a small
amount of power can thereby be realized.
Moreover, in the present specification, electromagnetic coupling is
used in a broad sense, including coupling realized using
electromagnetic waves, such as light or the mutual induction of
coils. Further, the term "connect" above may be construed so as to
include at least one of non-contact coupling, and contact coupling
using wiring. The door handle side circuit and door main body side
circuit include not only electronic circuits, but also optical
circuits for transmitting light for light emission or light for
communication. Further, the restriction of relative movement may be
realized by configuring, e.g., a support unit having a moving
mechanism such as a hinge to deform, or by resilient deformation
(to be described). Further, the door main body side circuit is
understood in a broad sense and, in the case where a circuit is
mounted in a vehicle main body, also includes wiring connected with
the circuit in the vehicle main body.
Further, a standardized technique, e.g. International Standard
ISO/IEC 18092 (Information technology--Telecommunications and
information exchange between systems--Near Field
Communication--Interface and Protocol (NFCIP-1)) can be utilized as
a non-contact communication system.
As a second configuration example, in the electromagnetic coupling
device of the first configuration example, the door side support
unit and the handle side support unit fit mutually together. In the
present configuration, relative movement is restricted by resilient
deformation of at least one of the door side support unit and the
handle side support unit. If this is done, relatively complex
movement of the door handle side coupling unit and the door main
body side coupling unit, including translation movement and rotary
movement, can easily be followed, and assembly at the time of
manufacturing can also be made easier.
As a third configuration example, in the electromagnetic coupling
device of the first or second configuration examples, the door main
body comprises a door glass which can be raised and lowered with
respect to the door main body. The electromagnetic coupling device
further comprises a window outer side coupling unit and a window
inner side coupling unit. The window outer side coupling unit is
disposed at the same side as the door handle of the door glass, and
is electromagnetically connected with the door main body side
coupling unit. The window inner side coupling unit is disposed at
the opposite side from the door handle of the door glass, and is
electromagnetically connected with the door main body side circuit.
The window outer side coupling unit and the window inner side
coupling unit are disposed at opposing positions with the door
glass interposed therebetween, and are electromagnetically
coupled.
In the third configuration example, since non-contact
electromagnetic coupling is performed by the window outer side
coupling unit and the window inner side coupling unit which are
disposed at opposing positions with the door glass which can be
raised and lowered with respect to the door main body interposed
therebetween, the routing (cable layout) of a signal transmission
pathway between the door handle side circuit and the door main body
side circuit no longer needs to avoid a movement range of the door
glass. Long routing which avoids the movement range of the door
glass can thereby be made unnecessary. Since the door glass
typically has a dielectric constant significantly greater than that
of air, the window outer side coupling unit and window inner side
coupling unit, which are disposed at opposing positions with the
door glass interposed therebetween, can realize stable
electromagnetic coupling using a small amount of power.
Moreover, the present invention can be realized in various forms,
e.g., as a door handle or vehicle door having an electromagnetic
coupling device.
Effects of the Invention
The present invention can teach a technique that realizes effective
transmission between a door handle and a vehicle door.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle door 10 of an
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cross-section
in a location of a door handle 100 of the vehicle door 10 of the
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of optical equipment and electrical
equipment mounted in the vehicle door 10 of the embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cross-section
of the door handle 100 of the vehicle door 10 of the embodiment of
the present invention in a rotated state.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred features of the present invention can be realized, e.g.,
by providing the following characteristics either singly or in
combination.
(Feature 1) An intermediate connector manufactured by molding
utilizes the door main body side coupling unit, window outer side
coupling unit, optical transmission device, and wiring.
Consequently, a configuration can be realized in which wiring and
optical circuits in a pathway from the door handle to the door
glass are not at all exposed, thus increasing reliability.
(Feature 2) The intermediate connector is molded from resilient
material. A configuration can thereby easily be realized that
follows complex movement, including translation movement and rotary
movement, that is caused by rotation of the door handle.
(Feature 3) The intermediate connector is formed by using wiring to
couple the door main body side coupling unit and window outer side
coupling unit, which are electromagnetic induction coils, these
being wound in the same direction and having virtually identical
(co-axial or common) central axes. The two electromagnetic
induction coils are thereby integrated and can function as a
connector that couples using both contact and non-contact
pathways.
(Feature 4) Optical communication utilizing optical coupling to
transmit information between antennas is applied. Interception by a
third party is thereby prevented, and confidentiality can be
increased.
(Feature 5) Information processing of the smart key system, and
light for light emission and light for communication, are realized
using an optical circuit that utilizes the same pathway. A highly
reliable mounting can thereby be realized easily, and fault
diagnosis also becomes easier.
Below, in order to clearly explain the operation and effects of the
present invention based on the above characteristics, the features
of the embodiments of the present invention will be described in
the following sequence.
A. Configuration of a vehicle door of the embodiment of the present
invention.
B. Supplementary items to the configuration of the vehicle door of
the embodiment of the present invention.
C. Variants.
A. Configuration of a Vehicle Door of the Embodiment of the Present
Invention.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle door 10 of an
embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle door 10 comprises
a door handle 100 and a vehicle door main body 200 having a door
glass 230. The door glass 230 is mounted such that it can move up
and down (Z axis direction) with respect to the vehicle door 10. As
will be described, the door handle 100 is mounted so as to rotate
around the Z axis with a hinge unit 121 (see FIGS. 2 and 4), which
is located to its anterior, as its center of rotation.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cross-section
in a location of the door handle 100 of the vehicle door 10 of the
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged
cross-sectional view viewed along the line II-II of FIG. 1. The
door handle 100 comprises an outer handle member 120 and an inner
handle member 130. The outer handle member 120 has the hinge unit
121 which is attached rotatably with respect to the vehicle door
main body 200, and a door opening and closing mechanism operation
unit 122 which operates a door opening and closing mechanism lever
240 in a Y axis direction. A grip unit 131, for a driver to hold on
to, and a protruding handle side support unit 139, are formed on
the inner handle member 130. The inner handle member 130 is screwed
to the outer handle member 120 by three screws 135, 136, 137.
A mounted state of electronic components, etc. (including an
optical circuit) on the door handle 100 is as follows. The outer
handle member 120 comprises an antenna 111, a door unlocking
detection device 112, a door locking detection device 113, an
optical device 151, and an optical fiber 152. The antenna 111, the
door unlocking detection device 112, and the door locking detection
device 113 are connected by wiring (not shown) in an interface
circuit (to be described). The door handle side coupling unit 119,
which is an inductive coupling coil, and an optical transmission
device 153, are attached to the handle side support unit 139 of the
inner handle member 130. The optical transmission device 153 is
attached to the handle side support unit 139 via a resilient member
159. Moreover, in the present figure, a cross-section of the
antenna 111 is shown, but hatching is omitted so as not to
complicate the figure.
The inductive coupling coils are coils for performing communication
or supply of power using an electromagnetic induction system
utilizing mutual induction of the coils by means of an AC magnetic
field. Although non-contact communication has not just the
electromagnetic induction system but also the radio wave system,
the electromagnetic induction system has the advantages of strong
magnetic coupling and excellent noise resistance and information
confidentiality. In this type of electromagnetic induction system,
since coupling strength is determined by how much lines of magnetic
force generated by one of the inductive coupling coils are
interlinked with the other of the inductive coupling coils, the
smaller the deviation in angle of the two inductive coupling coils
in an axial direction, and the smaller the distance between the two
inductive coils, the stronger the coupling, and the greater the
ability to realize a connection with excellent noise resistance and
confidentiality with low power consumption.
The vehicle door main body 200 comprises a metal outer panel 201, a
support member 202, and the door opening and closing mechanism
lever 240. The outer panel 201 is screwed to the support member 202
by a screw 203. The support member 202, further, is fixed so that
the hinge unit 121 of the door handle 100 can rotate around the Z
axis, and is fixed so that the door glass 230 can move up and down
in the Z axis direction.
A mounted state of electronic components, etc. on the vehicle door
main body 200 is as follows. The vehicle door main body 200
comprises an intermediate connector 160 located further to the
vehicle outer side (a positive direction of the Y axis) than the
door glass 230, a main body side connector 260 located further to
the vehicle inner side (a negative direction of the Y axis) than
the door glass 230, and a harness 252. The main body side connector
260 has a window inner side coupling unit 261, which is an
inductive coupling coil, and an optical transmission device 262.
The harness 252 has optical fiber and electrical wiring (not
shown). The main body side connector 260 has flocking on its tip at
the door glass 230 side.
The configuration of the intermediate connector 160 is as follows.
The intermediate connector 160 is a connector manufactured by
molding (integrally molding), from a resilient material, a door
main body side coupling unit 161 and a window outer side coupling
unit 162, these being inductive coupling coils, an optical
transmission device 163, and wiring (not shown). The molding is
performed utilizing the resilient materials elastomer or
polypropylene resin, thereby forming a connector body 169. The door
main body side coupling unit 161 and the window outer side coupling
unit 162 are both inductive coupling coils for performing
communication and supply of power utilizing mutual induction of the
coils by means of an AC magnetic field.
The door main body side coupling unit 161, and the window outer
side coupling unit 162 are formed as inductive coupling coils by
being wound in the same direction around the Y axis in the
intermediate connector 160, and have virtually identical (co-axial
or common) central axes. The door main body side coupling unit 161
and the window outer side coupling unit 162 are electrically
connected by wires. The two electromagnetic induction coils are
thereby integrated and can function as a connector that couples on
both contact and non-contact pathways. The intermediate connector
160 further comprises the optical transmission device 163, which is
located at a central axis side shaded by the connector body 169. In
the present embodiment, the intermediate connector 160 has flocking
on its tip at the door glass 230 side.
The mounted state of the intermediate connector 160 is as follows.
The intermediate connector 160 is fixed to the support member 202
of the vehicle door main body 200. By fitting the protruding (a
convex unit) handle side support unit 139 with a concave unit
embedded in the door main body side coupling unit 161, the
intermediate connector 160 can realize electromagnetic induction
coupling of the door handle side coupling unit 119 and the door
main body side coupling unit 161, and optical coupling of the
optical transmission device 153 and the optical transmission device
163. In the operation of incorporating the door handle 100 into the
vehicle door main body 200, a manual operation such as a mechanical
connection utilizing a fitting mechanism (screw or latch) of a
contact type connector thereby becomes unnecessary, and
electromagnetic coupling can be realized easily. Moreover, the
above concave-convex relationship may be reversed.
Thus, in the present embodiment, non-contact type coupling between
the door handle side coupling unit 119 and the door main body side
coupling unit 161 can be realized by fitting the handle side
support unit 139 with the intermediate connector 160. It thereby
becomes possible to connect a wire harness without performing a
high precision operation that requires a connector connection or a
rotation operation, and consequently this also has the advantage of
promoting manufacturing automation, allowing productivity to be
increased. Further, since the wired connector assembly is replaced
by the simple intermediate connector 160, the component count is
reduced and weight is also reduced. Moreover, in the present
embodiment, the handle side support unit 139 and the connector body
169 are equivalent respectively to the "handle side support unit"
and the "door side support unit" in the claims.
The intermediate connector 160 is electromagnetically coupled with
the main body side connector 260, without making contact, in the
following manner. The intermediate connector 160 has the window
outer side coupling unit 162 that is an inductive coupling coil
that is disposed virtually co-axially with the main body side
connector 260, in a position facing the main body side connector
260 with the door glass 230 interposed therebetween. The window
outer side coupling unit 162 and the window inner side coupling
unit 261 can thereby perform communication and supply of power
utilizing mutual induction of the coils. Since the optical
transmission device 262 and the optical transmission device 163 are
disposed virtually co-axially at facing positions with the door
glass 230 interposed therebetween, optical coupling is
realized.
The wiring path and optical path thereby no longer need long
routing to avoid the movement range of the door glass 230. Since
the optical transmission device 262 and the optical transmission
device 163 can realize optical coupling with the door glass 230
therebetween, crack detection of the door glass 230 can also be
performed. Further, in the vehicle door 10 of the driver's seat in
which the smart key system is mounted, the door glass 230 requires
high visible light transmittivity. Consequently, the problem of
light attenuation caused by shading the door glass does not occur
in optical coupling between the optical transmission device 262 and
the optical transmission device 163. Since the door glass 230
typically has a dielectric constant significantly greater than that
of air, this also has the advantage that stable electromagnetic
coupling can be realized without making contact using a small
amount of power.
FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of optical equipment and electrical
equipment mounted in the vehicle door 10 of the embodiment of the
present invention. The optical equipment comprises the optical
device, 151, two optical fibers 152, 155, the three optical
transmission devices 153, 163, 262, and a light-emitting device
156. The light-emitting device 156 changes emission color or
flashing state in accordance with a door state (locked or unlocked,
abnormal, etc.). The light of the light-emitting device 156 reaches
the optical device 151 via, in sequence, the optical fiber 155, the
optical transmission device 262, the optical transmission device
163, the optical transmission device 153, and the optical fiber
152. The optical device 151 diffuses the light which has reached
it, emitting it to the exterior. The driver can thus ascertain the
door state (e.g., the locked or unlocked state of the lock).
The connecting state of the optical equipment and electrical
equipment in the vehicle door 10 is as follows. A door handle side
circuit 110 is connected by wiring to the door handle side coupling
unit 119. The door handle side coupling unit 119 is connected
(coupled) by electromagnetic induction coupling with the door main
body side coupling unit 161 of the intermediate connector 160. The
window outer side coupling unit 162 of the intermediate connector
160 faces the window inner side coupling unit 261 with the door
glass 230 interposed therebetween, and is connected (coupled) by
electromagnetic induction coupling with the window inner side
coupling unit 261. The window inner side coupling unit 261 is
connected by wiring to a door main body side circuit 210.
The optical device 151 is connected by the optical fiber 152 with
the optical transmission device 153. The optical transmission
device 153 is connected (coupled) by optical coupling with the
optical transmission device 163 of the intermediate connector 160.
The optical transmission device 163 is connected (coupled) by
optical coupling with the optical transmission device 262 via the
door glass 230. The optical transmission device 262 is connected by
the optical fiber 155 with the light-emitting device 156.
The door handle side circuit 110 comprises the antenna 111, the
door unlocking detection device 112, the door locking detection
device 113, and an interface circuit 118. The antenna 111 is
capable of receiving and sending encrypted signals in the smart
entry system. The door unlocking detection device 112 is capable of
detecting electrostatic capacity between the door unlocking
detection device 112 and the outer panel 201 near the grip unit
131. The door locking detection device 113 is capable of detecting
electrostatic capacity between the door locking detection device
113 and the outer panel 201 at the front of the door handle 100
away from the grip unit 131.
The interface circuit 118 of the door handle side circuit 110 is
electrically connected with an interface circuit 218 of the door
main body side circuit 210 utilizing the aforementioned
electromagnetic induction coupling. In the present embodiment, the
two interface circuits 118, 218 function as a modulation circuit
and a demodulation circuit, and are connected by electromagnetic
induction coupling utilizing the mutual induction of coils by means
of an AC magnetic field. Communication between the door handle side
circuit 110 and the door main body side circuit 210, and power
supply from the door main body side circuit 210 to the door handle
side circuit 110 thereby becomes possible, and the vehicle door 10
can thus perform the following operations.
Utilizing the above connection, the vehicle door 10 can realize the
following operations. (1) A control circuit 211 automatically
starts wireless verification as a driver having a smart key (not
shown) approaches the door handle 100, and allows the door lock to
be released upon ending verification. This wireless verification is
performed using the antenna 111 of the door handle 100. (2) In the
case where the release of the door lock is allowed, the control
circuit 211 releases the door lock in accordance with change in
electrostatic capacity between the door unlocking detection device
112 and the outer panel 201 upon the driver making contact with the
grip unit 131. (3) The control circuit 211 locks the door lock in
accordance with change in electrostatic capacity between the door
locking detection device 113 and the outer panel 201 upon the
driver making contact with the front part of the door handle 100.
(4) In accordance with the aforementioned states, the control
circuit 211 operates a driving circuit 212 to operate an outputting
state of the light-emitting device 156, and controls a
light-emitting state of the optical device 151.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cross-section
of the door handle 100, in a rotated state, of the vehicle door 10
of the embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with a
manual operation by the driver, the door handle 100 rotates around
the Z axis with respect to the vehicle door main body 200, with the
hinge unit 121 attached to the vehicle door main body 200 as its
center. As the door handle 100 rotates around the Z axis, the door
handle 100 moves the door opening and closing mechanism operation
unit 122 in the Y axis direction with respect to the vehicle door
main body 200, operating the door opening and closing mechanism
lever 240. In accordance with this operation, the door opening and
closing mechanism lever 240 can manually open and close the vehicle
door 10 while it is in the unlocked state.
Assuming no resilient deformation of the connector body 169, the
door handle side coupling unit 119 generates relative translation
movement and relative rotary movement in a direction of mutual
separation with respect to the door main body side coupling unit
161 of the vehicle door main body 200. This is because, in
accordance with the aforementioned rotation operation, the door
handle side coupling unit 119 performs the rotation operation
around the Z axis and the translation movement operation in the Y
axis direction. Of these types of relative movement, the rotary
movement is minute since there is typically a long distance between
the hinge unit 121 and the grip unit 131 of the door handle 100.
Since the location of the door main body side coupling unit 161 is
closer to the hinge unit 121 than to the grip unit 131, the
translation movement can also be made smaller than the operation
amount of the grip unit 131.
As is clear from FIG. 4, this type of minute relative movement
between the door handle side coupling unit 119 and the door main
body side coupling unit 161 can be absorbed adequately by the
intermediate connector 160 following the movement of the door
handle side coupling unit 119, wherein the connector body 169 of
the intermediate connector 160 deforms resiliently. I.e., despite
the rotation of the door handle 100, a positional relationship of
the door handle side coupling unit 119 and the door main body side
coupling unit 161 sufficient for electromagnetic coupling can be
maintained by the connector body 169 deforming resiliently. In
particular, in the present embodiment, since the amount of
deviation (angle) in the axial direction and the distance of the
two inductive coupling coils 119, 161 can both be kept small,
diminishment of the mutually interlinking lines of magnetic force
can be reduced significantly. The notable effect is thereby
achieved of being able to maintain strong electromagnetic induction
coupling.
Thus, in the present embodiment, non-contact communication and
optical coupling between the door handle side circuit 110 and the
door main body side circuit 210 can be maintained despite the
rotation operation of the door handle 100. By contrast, in the case
of a wired connection, the connection of the wire harness between
movable components causes the following problems: bending or
movement of the wire harness accompanying movability of the
components, friction, chatter during vibration, resonance, and the
load of a waterproofing process.
Thus, as in the case of the door handle 100 and the vehicle door
main body 200, the mutual induction of coils is utilized in the
present embodiment for electromagnetic induction coupling to
perform communication and supply of power between movable
components which have complex and minute relative movement that
includes rotary movement and translation movement. This
successfully creates a notable effect which could not be foreseen
by persons skilled in the field at the time of application.
Further, since this type of non-contact communication can provide
design flexibility whereby electrically contacting parts can be
completely eliminated, the decrease in reliablity or increase in
manufacturing cost that accompanies poor contact in connecting
conventional contact type electrical connectors can be suppressed.
This is a notable effect particularly because, as described above,
the operation of movable parts readily creates poor contact.
Further, in the present embodiment, since a plurality of signals
can be conveyed using a single carrier, the amount of wiring does
not need to be increased even if the type of signals received and
transmitted increase, thus realizing a communication-energy supply
pathway having a high degree of design flexibility and design
compatibility. Further, since the production process can be
simplified, as described above, this paves the way for automating
the assembly process of the door handle 100.
B. Supplementary Items to the Configuration of the Vehicle Door of
the Embodiment of the Present Invention.
Below, a supplementary description is given for the vehicle door 10
of the embodiment. As shown in the embodiment, the door handle side
circuit 110 is typically an electronic circuit for locking. The
door main body side circuit 210 is a main circuit that, in
conjuction with the door handle side circuit 110, controls the
locking of the door. The door main body side circuit 210 may be
mounted within the vehicle body. In that sense, the door main body
side circuit 210 may be termed, in other words, a "main circuit
within the vehicle body."
The door handle side coupling unit 119 and the door main body side
coupling unit 161 are both devices that have coils and that
transmit electrical signals while remaining electrically insulated.
The door handle side coupling unit 119 and the door main body side
coupling unit 161 may, in other words, together be termed "a pair
of magnetic couplers." If one of the door handle side coupling unit
119 and the door main body side coupling unit 161 represents a
first coil and the other thereof represents a second coil, the pair
of magnetic couplers consist of the first coil and the second coil,
and may be termed, in other words, a device that transmits signals
between the door handle side circuit and the main circuit within
the vehicle body. Further, the first coil and the second coil are
disposed opposite one another.
The connector body 169 is formed by the resilient member. One end
of the connector body 169 joins with the door handle 100, and the
other end thereof joins with the door main body 200.
Using the different expressions above, the characteristics of the
vehicle door 10 of the embodiment can be expressed as follows. The
vehicle door 10 comprises the door main body 200, the door handle
100, the pair of magnetic couplers, and the resilient member 169.
The door handle 100 is supported rotatably with respect to the door
main body 200, and is attached to the door handle side circuit 110
used for electronic locking. The pair of magnetic couplers consist
of the first coil 119 and the second coil 161, and transmit signals
between the door handle side circuit 110 and the main circuit 210
within the vehicle body. One end of the resilient member (the
connector body 169) joins with the door handle 100, the other end
thereof joins with the door main body 200, and the resilient member
deforms as the door handle 100 rotates. At least one of the first
coil 119 and the second coil 161 is attached to the resilient
member, and the other of the first coil 119 and the second coil 161
is attached so as to be opposite that coil. Specifically, the
second coil 161 is attached to the resilient member, and the first
coil 119 is attached to the door handle 100 at a position opposite
the second coil. According to the above configuration, the
resilient member restricts relative positional divergence, caused
by rotation of the door handle, of the pair of magnetic
couplers.
The advantages of the vehicle door 10 of the embodiment will be
reiterated. The door handle side circuit and the main circuit can
be connected by a cable. However, with a flexible cable, the cable
repeatedly deforms as the door handle is rotated, and consequently
deteriorates over time. Mounting a radio wave transceiver in the
door handle and the door main body increases costs. Magnetic
couplers utilizing coils are low cost and, since they are
non-contact, do not undergo the repeated deformation that the cable
undergoes due to rotation. Unlike connectors that make physical
contact between terminals, magnetic couplers are able to transmit
electrical signals even if their relative positions diverge
slightly. However, signal transmission efficiency falls if the pair
of magnetic couplers have a large positional divergence. The
vehicle door 10 utilizes magnetic couplers capable of transmitting
signals without their relative position being fixed, and restricts
the relative positional divergence, caused by rotation of the door
handle, of the pair of magnetic couplers. Consequently, low output
magnetic couplers can be adopted in the configuration of the
vehicle door of the embodiment.
The door handle 100 of the embodiment comprises the handle side
support unit 139 that supports the first coil 119. The handle side
support unit 139 is equivalent to a protrusion extending in the
rotation direction of the door handle 100. The protrusion fits
together with the resilient member (the connector body 169), such
that it can slide in the rotation direction. The first coil 119 and
the second coil 161 of the pair of magnetic couplers are disposed
in opposing positions co-axially with the protrusion and the
resilient member respectively.
By providing a configuration where the protrusion (the handle side
support unit 139) and the resilient member (the connector body 169)
fit together along the rotation direction of the door handle 100,
the protrusion and the resilient member fit together simultaneously
with attaching the door handle 100. By providing the above
configuration, the assembly of the door handle 100, this including
the establishment of the signal transmission pathway, can be
performed easily.
The vehicle door 10 of the embodiment further comprises a third
coil (the window outer side coupling unit 162) and a fourth coil
(the window inner side coupling unit 261), and comprises a pair of
second magnetic couplers that are directly connected with the
aforementioned pair of magnetic couplers and that transmit signals,
together with the aforementioned pair of magnetic couplers, between
the door handle side circuit and the main circuit. The third coil
and the fourth coil are disposed at opposing positions with the
door glass 230 interposed therebetween. The advantage of the second
magnetic couplers is the same as that described above.
The door handle 100 comprises the optical device 151 that radiates
light to the exterior. The vehicle door 10 of the embodiment
comprises the pair of optocouplers 153, 160 that transmit, to the
optical device 151, the light emitted by the light-emitting device
156 provided in the vehicle body. The pair of optocouplers are
disposed co-axially with the protrusion (the handle side support
unit 139) at the inner side of the magnetic couplers and the
resilient member (the connector body 169) respectively.
C. Variants.
A specific example of the present invention is described above in
detail, but this example is merely illustrative and places no
limitation on the scope of the patent claims. The technology
described in the patent claims also encompasses various changes and
modifications to the specific example described above. The
technical elements explained in the present specification and
drawings provide technical utility either independently or through
various combinations. The present invention is not limited to the
combinations described at the time the claims are filed. Further,
the purpose of the examples illustrated by the present
specification and drawings is to satisfy multiple objectives
simultaneously, and satisfying any one of those objectives gives
technical utility to the present invention. Specifically, e.g., the
following type of variants can also be embodied. Moreover, the
novel technique taught in the present specification can also be
utilized in connection of vehicle components other than a vehicle
door. C-1: In the above embodiment, both electrical coupling and
optical coupling between the door handle and the vehicle door main
body are realized. However, only electrical coupling may be
realized, only optical coupling may be realized or, as in the
embodiment, both couplings may be realized. The coupling that can
be utilized in the present invention may be general non-contact
electromagnetic coupling. However, if optical communication using
optical coupling in communication between the antenna 111 and the
circuit in the vehicle is applied, this has the advantage of
preventing interception by a third party, increasing
confidentiality. Further, if all the coupling is configured using
optical circuits, it is possible to e.g., send indicator light for
notifying the driver about the door lock state along the same
pathway as the light for communication. Consequently, simple
mounting can be realized. C-2: In the above embodiment and variant,
two electromagnetic couplings are provided: coupling between the
door handle and the vehicle door main body, and coupling across the
door glass at the interior of the vehicle door main body. However,
e.g., only one of these couplings, or 3 or more couplings may be
provided. However, in the case where the connection between the
door handle and the vehicle door main body is realized by a single
electromagnetic coupling, it is preferred that this coupling is
across the door glass. This has the advantages of making long
routing to avoid the movement range of the door glass unnecessary,
and allowing crack detection of the door glass utilizing optical
coupling. C-3: In the above embodiment and variants, although the
intermediate connector is utilized that is manufactured by molding
resilient material into the door main body side coupling unit,
window outer side coupling unit, optical transmission device, and
wiring, the intermediate connector need not necessarily be used.
However, using the intermediate connector has the advantage of
providing a communication pathway, from the door handle at a
vehicle inner side of the door glass, this being configured such
that wiring and optical circuits are not at all exposed in the
pathway from the door handle to the door glass. Further, since the
intermediate connector is molded from resilient material, a
configuration can easily be realized that follows complex movement,
including translation movement and rotary movement, of the door
handle side coupling unit, this being caused by rotation of the
door handle.
Further, there is also the advantage that, even if the wiring route
changes due to design changes of the door main body side,
corresponding design changes of the intermediate connector can be
made without performing design changes of the door handle. This has
the advantage of also being easily applicable to other types of
vehicle. C-4: In the above embodiment and variants, the door handle
side circuit is a circuit for realizing the function of a smart key
system. However, the door handle side circuit may, e.g., also
simultaneously realize other functions, or may realize a function
other than the smart key system. The door handle side circuit may
exchange at least one of signals or energy (electrical or optical
energy) with the door main body side circuit of the door main body.
C-5: In the above embodiment and variants, the door main body side
coupling unit (the connector body 169 in the embodiment) moves
following other movement, restricting the relative movement of the
door main body side coupling unit and the door handle side coupling
unit. However, a configuration may be adopted in which e.g.,
resilient deformation occurs at the side of the handle side support
unit 139 that supports the door handle side coupling unit, or in
which resilient deformation occurs at both sides. Further,
deformation may be not only resilient deformation, but may be
realized by e.g., providing a mechanism such as a link mechanism.
Further, it is not necessary to diminish both relative rotary
movement and relative translation movement, as described above, but
instead only one thereof may be diminished. The support
configuration that can be used in the present invention may
generally thus be configured such that at least one of the handle
side support unit and the door side support unit restricts relative
movement, caused by rotation of the door handle, of the door handle
side coupling unit and the door main body side coupling unit.
EXPLANATION OF THE NUMBERS
10 . . . vehicle door 24 . . . door opening and closing mechanism
lever 100 . . . door handle 110 . . . door handle side circuit 111
. . . antenna 112 . . . door unlocking detection device 113 . . .
door locking detection device 118 . . . interface circuit 119 . . .
door handle side coupling unit 120 . . . outer handle member 121 .
. . hinge unit 122 . . . door opening and closing mechanism
operation unit 130 . . . inner handle member 131 . . . grip unit
135 . . . screw 139 . . . handle side support unit 151 . . .
optical device 152, 155 . . . optical fiber 153, 163 . . . optical
transmission device 156 . . . light-emitting device 159 . . .
resilient member 160 . . . intermediate connector 161 . . . door
main body side coupling unit 162 . . . window outer side coupling
unit 169 . . . connector body 200 . . . vehicle door main body 201
. . . outer panel 202 . . . support member 203 . . . screw 210 . .
. door main body side circuit 211 . . . control circuit 212 . . .
driving circuit 218 . . . interface circuit 230 . . . door glass
240 . . . door opening and closing mechanism lever 252 . . .
harness 260 . . . main body side connector 261 . . . window inner
side coupling unit 262 . . . optical transmission device
* * * * *